What Coca Cola - the Statue of Liberty & Geronimo - all have in common?(the answer is below)

Did you know thatMargaret Tobinwas born inHannibal, MO

It was there, working as a waitress, she met,Samuel Clemens.He taught her how to handle a row boat on theMississippi River.

It was alsoClemens that told her of the get rich gold opportunitiesin the Rocky Mountains. She took his advice.Today, we all know Margaret Tobin as:"the Unsinkable"Molly Brown

In 2013There are fewer than a 75 authentic Riverboats are still operating on the rivers and waters of the world today. Of those, the largest ones are deliberately preserved for tourists attractions. Some of them still operate on the Mississippi River.

The newest trend on the river today; is that of the sternwheeler enthusiast. These individuals, in growing numbers,and from all walks of life... are devoted to keeping these historic vessels off the American "endangered species" list. Through private ownership and investment, these proud Americans, historians, nature and boat lovers, are diligently building their own sternwheelers, and helping others do the same. They also participate in Sternwheel Regattas and Riverboat Festivals and events to help raise money to restore as many of these historic vessels as possible.

Want to learn more? The American Sternwheel Association can help... They have great information, pictures and links to help you get started - even to build your own!

And to think - that In 1929Congress voted to abolish the Patent Office.They had determined and decided that:"everything that could be invented, has been invented."Since then, we have had: stereo, TV, computers, cellphones, jetsrockets to the moon, Internet, GPS, iphones, ipods, andover 10 million new invention patents in the US alone.

In 1878 - First commercial telephone exchange opened; and Thomas A. Edison founded Edison Electric Light Co.In 1879 - President Hayes becomes the first President to use a telephone. Albert Einstein is born in Ulm, Germany.In 1880 - the steamboat paddle-wheeled Robert E. Lee makes the trip from Hannibal, Missouri to New Orleans in 17 hours 11 minutes.In 1881 - Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. While a famous gun battle involving the Earp brothers takes place at the OK Corral, Tombstone, AZ.In 1883 - Northern Pacific Railroad completed, operates between New York and California, and Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show begins its 30-year touring run.In 1884 - The first "long-distance" telephone call completed. It was between Boston and New York. First roller coaster in the U.S. opened at Coney Island in New York City. And Mark Twain's masterpiece, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is published.

SteamboatracesIn 1870 the Natchez & Lee race (upstream) on the Mississippi, from New Orleans to St. Louis. The Robert E. Lee wins - taking 3 days, 18 hours, 13 minutes.It is a journey, that prior to the invention of the paddle wheeled steamboat - took travelers 4 months to complete.

Also in 1859Congress approved the offer of a $600,000 Grantfor the first concern to maintain a 2 day mail delivery servicefor 60 consecutive days betweenSt. Joseph, MO and Sacramento, CA.

TITANIC SINKING1912

By the timeSamuel Clemenswas 10... in Hannibal, MO - traffic made it impossible to look at the Mississippi Riverin daylight, and not see a riverboat passing by.

In 1849, Abraham Lincoln received Patent No. 6469 - for this (scale model) device to lift boats over sand bars, and add buoyancy to vessel in shallow waters.

Nov. 1860Abe Lincolnelected PresidentJan. 1861Civil War begins

In 1849, Abraham Lincoln received Patent No. 6469 for a device to lift riverboats over shoals, an invention (obviously driven from his experience) which made him the only U.S. President to ever hold a patent.In 1850, five states; Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, Iowa, and California were added as States (making 31 states in all).In 1851 - Herman Melville, the School Master who hopped on an Erie Canal boat near Buffalo NY and ended up on a Whaling ship going around Cape Horn, gets his book "Moby-Dick" published.In 1853 - White House installs first "hot" running water.In 1855 - First railroad train crossed the Mississippi River on the river's first bridge, Rock Island, IL-Davenport, IA, (hence the name: Rock Island Railroad)In 1857, Samuel Clemens embarks on his career as a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River, and did so until the outbreak of the Civil War.1859 First oil well, drilled near Titusville, PA, while Abolitionist John Brown, with 21 men, seized U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry.

In 1860 - Abraham Lincoln elected president, and the first Pony Express begins operating between St. Joseph, MO and Sacramento, CA.In 1861 - Civil War begins while the first transcontinental telegraph line was put in operation. Drafted by the Army, Samuel Clemens "quits" and goes to Virginia City, Nevada where he begins using the name Mark Twain. Apache Indian Chief Cochise declares war on "White Man" and the "Apache Wars" begin.In 1862 - The Sultana is christened by the John Lithoberry Shipyard in Cincinnati, Ohio, weighing 1,719 tons, the steamer carried a crew of 85. She ran a regular route between St. Louis and New Orleans and was frequently commissioned by the War Department to carry troops.Also in 1862, Lincoln receives letter from Napoleon offering Lincoln a chance to surrender the America - stating that his Emperor of Mexico, Maximilian and his Army were on their way to the White House. Lincoln of course, up to the top of his hat in the Civil War was helpless, and our country was defenseless. Now, what Mexico celebrates as "Cinco de Mayo" should be an even bigger American celebration. In 1863 - The entire Mississippi River is controlled by the Union Army, and with the exception of transporting Union soldiers and supplies - all Riverboat traffic on the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri comes to a halt. Also, Battle at Gettysburg, Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address; and declares Thanksgiving to be a national holiday.In 1865 - Pres. Lincoln was shot on Apr. 14, and on April 18, Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. On Apr. 27 the steamboat, Sultana, explodes near Memphis after passing a safety inspection in St. Louis. She was loaded with 2,400 passengers (mostly Union soldiers) more than 1,800 passengers killed. This exceeds the number of the lives lost on the Titanic and remains "America's worst maritime disaster".

On June 30, 1870 in New Orleans a crowd of more than ten thousand watched the Natchez and the Robert E. Lee set off on a 1,200 miles race up the Mississippi to St. Louis. On July 4th 1870, the R. E. Lee arrived victoriously in St. Louis while a crowd of thousands cheered wildly. In the book, "Tales of the Mississippi", it is reported that the "ovation which the Robert E. Lee received in St. Louis was legendary - arriving New Orleans at 11:33 on the morning of Independence Day, exactly 3 days, 18 hours and 13 minutes after leaving St. Mary's market in New Orleans. The Natchez did not arrive in St. Louis for another six hours and 33 minutes after the Lee.Previously, the speed record was held by the Natchez which had just earlier in the month (June 1870) surpassedJ. M. White's long standing May 8, 1844 record of three days, twenty-three hours, and nine minutes. The Natchez' best record to St. Louis being 3 days, 22 hours and 57 minutes.In 1875 Congress passed Civil Rights Act, and the first Kentucky Derby takes place.

In 1876 - Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone, while Col. George A. Custer and all the soldiers of the 7th Cavalry were killed in the Battle of the Little Big Horn...

In 1889 - President Benjamin Harrison becomes the first President to have electricity in the White House - but, he doesn't use it as he and the First Lady are afraid to touch the switches. (They didn't let the staff use it ether.)In 1903 - Just 100 years after Fulton's demonstration of his steamboat Claremont, people all around Kitty Hawk were thinking the Wright Bros. were crazy.

TheUnsinkableMolly Brown

100 year Historyof the Riverboatis brought to youbyCapt Johnand the crew aboardthe SummerWind